Caramel Butter Pecan Affogato

Affogato is a super easy Italian dessert that is traditionally made with a scoop of vanilla gelato and a shot of espresso.  It’s great for summer since the cold gelato cools the espresso and adds a rich creaminess to the drink.  It’s sweet, decadent and refreshing.   There are no hard rules though, I’ve seen affogatos made with chocolate or caramel ice cream with espresso or coffee.

This dessert is a bit nostalgic for me though.  Growing up, I remember my dad scooping his favorite ice cream, butter pecan, into a mug and topping it off with hot coffee.  It was his special treat.  When I was in high school I sometimes would indulge and put a couple of scoops of butter pecan ice cream in my morning coffee.  So bad, but oh, so good!

Affogato is also great for entertaining, so easy to throw together and no fuss.  It’s a  simple but satisfying way to end a dinner party.

Hello, beautiful! Chopped candied pecans and shaved chocolate makes this affogato a little more special!  Next time, I might even add a drizzle of caramel.

Rich, creamy Tillamook ice cream + Gourmesso Soffio Vaniglia espresso = a match made in heaven. The vanilla espresso is so fragrant and smooth.

I love that the Gourmesso coffee pods are compatible with the Nespresso machine and at a fraction of the price.  Do you get excited when the room fills with the intoxicating aroma of freshly brewed coffee?  I do!